Habitats of Girona (Catalonia): urban landscape and Natura 2000 areas

The Girona urban landscape and Natura 2000 habitats map (1:10.000) was generated with data from photointerpretation and fieldwork. We mapped 118 CORINE habitats and identified 15 Habitats of Community Interest (which cover 40% of the study area). The vegetation science approach is usually applied at Natura 2000 sites but is scarce in urban areas. While these urban areas are increasingly recognized for their contributions to good quality of life, there is a lack of data, which halts improvements in urban planning and management. Current tools, such as CORINE habitat cartographies, can play an essential role in mapping the green and blue infrastructures and the urban matrix. These habitat maps can be used to evaluate biodiversity at different scales, as they contain all the information about these types of landscapes. In conclusion, the development of CORINE habitat cartographies will lead to a new strategic approach for the socioecological transition of urban landscapes.